It's not Pink, It's Lung

Somehow we just keep finding ways to ignore this fact: The biggest killers of women are heart disease and lung cancer. But now, in October,  the pink tsunami begins and we are saturated with pink hues and the fear-based marketing of breast cancer awareness.

But please pause for a minute and consider lung cancer. Yeah, the one that (after colon cancer) no one wants to talk about because it's gross and because we still (come on!) think it only kills smokers. (No it doesn't).

Here, in the New York Times article below (click the link) is an important idea about reducing deaths from lung cancer. The authors McKee and Salner are radiation oncologists. This is public health information.

After you read this we'll talk some more about the cancers that aren't pastel and that don't sell lipstick.

http://nyti.ms/XIoKQ2

Cancer Cancer Everywhere

A beautiful late winter snow day…tons of unexpected snow and I am in my flannel pajamas at 5pm. Delicious. Also delicious: today I made real Mexican hot chocolate concocted with a bar of real dark chocolate, cream and hot red peppers. And my new toy: a battery operated wisk. (Almost as much fun as other battery operated devices.)

But a soft drum beat in the distance: cancer, cancer, cancer. An old friend has breast cancer, a new friend has bone marrow cancer, a coworker’s child has brain cancer. In today’s paper a reminder that while we oooh and ahh over breast cancer and even colon cancer it will be lung cancer that will kill the most. Lung cancer kills seven times more than all other cancers put together.

Why no ribbons or races or fashion shows for Lung Cancer?

Because we think it is deserved by smokers and their families. A subtle shaming and discrimination. But get this: 80% of all lung cancer diagnoses are in folks who never smoked or who quit decades ago.

What color should the ribbons be?

Lung Cancer

OK. It is now November. Breast month is finally over. All the little pink titties can get put away and we can now talk about who dies of cancer. Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in the United States. 30% of all cancer deaths are from lung cancer. It kills three times more men than prostate cancer and it kills twice as many women as breast cancer. But do you know anyone walking, shopping or wearing a ribbon for lung cancer?

Think about this. It’s a horrible cancer. Little effective treatment or prevention and it’s pretty much a death sentence. And a fast one. Maybe that’s why we can’t face it? But these are our lungs—our respiration and inspiration. Lung cancer kills across age groups. And its not just smokers. We do a great disservice with that focus on smokers. It’s cancer.

Take a deep breath.